Get a Rough Estimate of Replacement Flooring Costs

There are 5 steps to getting an approximate idea of how much a new floor will cost. They will help you form a rough estimate on the replacement cost for a new floor. At the same time as calculating a rough estimate for yourself we recommend getting a free quote from a trustworthy professional installer as a comparison guide.

Step 1: Determine the Total Square Footage Required

Since all types of flooring are sold by the square foot or square yard, knowing how large the area is that you want to cover is the first step. You’ll need a tape measure to determine square footage. If you have a blueprint that shows dimension, it will save you from having to make the measurements.

Measure rooms one at a time. It’s easiest to measure rectangles, so if you have an “L-shaped” room, divide it into 2 rectangles and measure them separately. The length of the rectangle multiplied by the width equals the square footage. For example, a room, or section of a room, that is 20 feet long and 12 feet wide produces this formula: 20 x 12 = 240 square feet. If the flooring you are purchasing is sold by the yard, divide the square feet by 9. So, 240 square feet / 9 = 26.667 square yards.

Add up the square footage from all the rooms or room sections. That number will be the total square footage being covered.

Step 2: Add 5% for Waste

Trimming the flooring will produce waste. Most manufacturers recommend 5% for waste. If you’re installing the floor yourself and don’t have experience, you might consider adding 10% for waste. So, if the total square feet to be covered is 1,200, multiple by 1.05 for 5% waste and 1.10 for 10% waste.

1,200 x 1.05 = 1,260

1,200 x 1.10 = 1,320

See the installation guides on this site to learn more about installing all the most popular types of flooring.

The individual flooring price guides on this site give complete price ranges for each type of flooring.

Step 4: Know the Price of Installation

You’ve got to get floor replacement estimates from local flooring contractors to find out the price of installation per square foot. The cheapest flooring to install is carpet and laminate. Vinyl and wood flooring are in the middle. Ceramic tile, stone and concrete are the most costly.

Get several estimates to find the lowest prices in your area. If you use an estimate service, the contractors are pre-screened and their bids are usual very competitive because they know you are getting more than one.

Step 5: Put it All Together

Multiply material cost and installation cost by the square footage and add them together.

For example, let’s say you’re going to hire home flooring pros to install your new carpet rather than installing it yourself. Here’s how this looks when you’ve got 1,200 square feet to cover:

In our illustration, to cover 1,200 square feet with average carpet at average installation costs, you’d pay $7,470. If the flooring installer is going to remove old flooring and dispose of it, there may be additional costs for those services.

Flooring Cost FAQ’s

Q: Why can’t I just use a flooring cost estimator?
A: There are a number of websites that offer a flooring estimator and they are a good place to start your research, but they will only give you a rough ballpark estimate. Following the steps above will give you a much more precise estimate, researching the exact cost of the flooring you intend to buy is a particularly important step.

Im replacing my kitchen floor, 120 sq ft. From the floor joists up. To remove the old flooring, replace subfloor, wonderboard,lay ceramic tile and grout. What would the approximate cost be? I did not have a professional do the labor but the job was done well. I just need some type of estimate to charge the landlord.

About Home Flooring Pros

Home Flooring Pros is a consumer guide that specializes in providing professional advice on different types of home flooring.

We take pride in delivering high-quality information that help homeowners decide on which type of flooring they want in their house. We work closely with qualified flooring contractors throughout the USA to provide installation and repair services for home flooring products.

Our website is supported by advertising. To that end, we may be compensated with a small commission through affiliations with our endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Read our Terms of Use and Disclosures page for more information.